Chapter Text
The little ding! of an email alert filled the quiet breakroom.
Reno checked his phone – no, not his – then glanced over at Kafka’s where it lay on the table.
‘Was that mine?’ Kafka asked from the bench where he was making them both tea.
‘Yeah, an email from… the blood something?’
‘Oh! Yeah, I’m about due for – oh hang on… Ah, damn. I probably can’t anymore.’
‘Senpai?’
Kafka wore a sad little smile as he brough their cups to the table and sat down.
‘I’m a blood donor,’ he explained. ‘I’m due to make a donation soon, but now that-’ he glanced around the room quickly, no one else was there – ‘You-know-what happened, I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t donate any more, just in case there’s anything weird in my blood. What do you think?’
‘Ah. I don’t really know anything about blood donation, but, um…’
Kafka had this half resigned, but half hopeful look on his face, like he thought Reno could fix the problem.
‘Could you tell me more about it?’
‘Sure! So, one of the things you can do is a whole blood donation, that’s when they take out red blood cells, platelets and plasma. You can do that about once every three or four months. I did one a day or two before I met you, actually. Good thing they had a spot open that night!
’Then there’s plasma donations, which you can do every two weeks. They take your blood out, spin it in a little centrifuge and then send the red stuff back into your body. It feels a bit weird going back in!’
He went on to explain how appointments usually went and what your blood was used for. There was a donor center nearby that stayed open late for shift workers to visit.
‘I’ve got an app that notifies me whenever my blood’s been used! I’m happy that I was able to help someone, but also sorry that someone needed it, you know?’
‘It’s really good of you to give blood, Senpai,’ Reno said, hiding a smile behind his tea.
‘Aw, it’s nothing to brag about!’ Kafka grinned, clearly pleased. His face turned a little sad again. ‘I started doing it after the first time I failed the Defence Force exam. It cheered me up a little, that I could at least do something to help people.’
‘It’s still a good thing to do! And what we’re doing now is important too!’ Seriously, Reno had a new and fierce appreciation for everyone working behind the scenes getting life back to normal after kaiju attacks.
‘I know, I know! Thanks, Ichikawa.’
He was quiet for moment, then, ‘Hah… they do take test samples to check for bugs each time, but it’s still probably too risky.’
‘And if they did find something, you might get found out.’
‘Oh, yeah. Damn.’
‘Sorry, Senpai.’
‘Don’t worry about it, Ichikawa… Hm, I wonder what should I tell the donor center? Help me think up an excuse? I don’t wanna just disappear when I’ve been going for fourteen – oh my god, I feel old.’
Reno started Googling things that could disqualify you from giving blood.
‘Stomach bug… not forever, HIV positive… better not, currently pregnant… pft!’
‘Hey! Oh, what about Kaiju-Fungal-Acute-Rheumatic-Tension?’
‘You get vaccinated against that if your job involves exposure to kaiju flesh. I got my shots before I started here.’
‘Ah, that’s right. It’s a been while since I had mine… Am I due for any boosters…?’
‘They also give them to civilians who’ve been exposed during attacks. Hm, how about Kaiju-Pollinosis-of-Oesophagus?’
‘Nah, that doesn’t last long enough.’
‘Um, Kaiju-Pneumatic-Encephalitis-Earache?’
‘Maybe…’
‘Don’t be so picky, Senpai. Oh! Kaiju-Post-Infection-Scale-Syndrome!’
‘Oo! That’s perfect, Ichikawa! That disqualifies for you at least three months after symptoms clear up!’
Kafka pumped his fist up.
‘I’ve actually had that one before, I can just say I’ve had it again and it’s lingering.’
Reno bought up some photos of people with the illness. Red, scabby skin; white, bumpy skin; black, scaley skin…
‘It really is perfect, Senpai,’ he breathed. ‘It could cover minor transformation slip ups too, look at this!’
He turned his phone around. Kafka reached over to scroll along and nodded.
‘Yup, that’s pretty much what I had several years ago.’
‘I said minor slip ups by the way,’ Reno warned. ‘Do not think for a second you can excuse that goddamn face! Senpai!’
‘Whoopsie!’
After the exam, after their enlistment, Reno and Kafka were being interrogated by Kikoru in a café. The girl had just finished threatening to kill Kafka if he became a threat, with the idiot grinning in approval, when Reno’s phone buzzed at him.
[1400: blood appt]
‘Senpai, I’ve got an appointment, I have to go now.’
‘Where are you off to?’ asked Kafka. ‘If it’s near Tachikawa Base we can catch the same bus.’
‘I’m going to the blood donation center.’
‘Ichikawa…’
Reno really hoped this wasn’t rubbing salt in the wound.
‘Aren’t you a good guy? Is this your first appointment? Do you need moral support?’
Phew.
‘Yeah, it’s my first. If you wouldn’t mind…’
A still-curious Kikoru followed them out (‘You’re not still giving blood in your condition, are you!?’ ‘Of course not! I’m not stupid!’) and insisted that she (her butler) escort them to the center.
While Reno was going over all the forms and checks with a nurse and Kikoru read over information pamphlets, Kafka chatted to the staff like old friends and explained why he’d stopped coming.
Kikoru eavesdropped shamelessly, nearly choking on her tea when Kafka showed off his “Scale Syndrome.”
She would have to give the idiot a good whack - when she was done registering and booking her own future appointment.
I just became able to give blood last year when the restrictions changed and the novelty hasn’t worn off yet, so please forgive this gushy piece.
I couldn’t find a lot of info on how blood donation works in Japan, so this is based mostly off my experience. Kafka had his appointments after work or on days off, since you’re not supposed to lift heavy objects after having a needle stuck in your vein for several minutes (or longer if it’s plasma or platelets.)
I encourage you readers to think about giving (or selling if that’s how it works in your country) blood if you’re able to, but no pressure if you can’t or don’t want to, seriously. Your body and everything in it belongs to you.
Alright, let me know what you think of this fic so far, catch you later!